coasterbill Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 This would be the best Christmas park ever if they ran all of the coasters. I'm sure their seasonal beer collection is out of this world and there's nothing I love more than cold weather drinking. In the summer you kind of need to drink water and stay hydrated occasionally. In the winter there's no need to waste your time with that type of bull***. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 ^ I mean, they have a freaking invert themed to a runaway ski lift. And they don't run it during a Xmas event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfreak101 Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 ^ ^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 Surprised no one has linked to the parks post about the trains for Invadr. It's been a very busy few weeks at the InvadR construction site. Rather than update you on what's going on at the project site like previous posts, I would like to take a moment and talk about three character qualities: talent, skill and dedication. The Busch Gardens maintenance team exemplifies those three qualities and they deserve recognition for their hard work in bringing InvadR to life. We mentioned previously that the InvadR trains were gently used for a few seasons at our sister park, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Our maintenance team had been tasked with re-building these trains in order to make them look and run as if they were brand new. There's quite a bit of work involved in refurbishing these trains and I am happy to report that they look amazing! I have enjoyed observing so many of our talented team members taking ownership of these trains. Rebuilding them has involved quite a number of people and departments such as the park ride mechanics, painters, carpenters, welders, ride supervisors, the SEA creative studio and support from the Busch Gardens and ride vendor engineering teams. Even our Park President, David Cromwell was able to lend a hand at turning a few bolts this week (photo below)! The photo below shows what a completed lead axle chassis and first coach chassis looks like. I am very pleased with how these trains are coming together. With all of this progress on the trains, there were many of us who wanted to take the trains for a test drive. Below are a few photos of the Busch Gardens design team (including me) testing out one of the new trains. Some of you may ask, "What about the theming on the trains?" I think our fans will be very excited to see what we have in store with this; Suzy from the engineering department will have more to share on that at a later date! Jonathan Smith Design and Engineering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prozach626 Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 At first glance I thought that was a case of beer sitting on the front of the car. Seemed so natural, since that's how I operate when I decide to turn wrenches on the Subaru. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 ^ I mean, they have a freaking invert themed to a runaway ski lift. And they don't run it during a Xmas event. Or when it snows. The park won't run their B&M coasters when the temperatures drops below 42 degrees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 The park won't run their B&M coasters when the temperatures drops below 42 degrees. I love Christmas. It's the one time of year we can actually brag about our home park being a Six Flags park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 By the way I just realized that the indoor, temperature controlled Dark Ride isn't open for this event. What the hell? I mean... I get it, it's not a family friendly ride but neither is Tempesto. Part of the answer is probably annual maintenance and staffing. Plus, the space in front of DarKastle is taken up with the Mistletoe Marketplace, a craft show that runs during Christmas Town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcoaster Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 I'd love to visit the park during their Christmas event. It looks beautiful, that picture of Alpinegiest in the snow had me feeling some sort of way. Even if it doesn't run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 that picture of Alpinegiest in the snow had me feeling some sort of way. Even if it doesn't run. Agreed. It has me feeling like I should go to Great Adventure and ride Batman and Nitro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njcoasterguy34 Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 that picture of Alpinegiest in the snow had me feeling some sort of way. Even if it doesn't run. Agreed. It has me feeling like I should go to Great Adventure and ride Batman and Nitro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 31, 2016 Author Share Posted October 31, 2016 Here's an amusing story from last night. Verbolten has a strict "no hats" policy. So, before I entered via Quick Queue, I took off my cap, put it in my coat pocket, and zipped it up. That hat wasn't going anywhere unless my entire coat went with it. So, after I sat down in the train, one of the ride ops asks. "Sir, do you have a hat?" Me: "Yes, it's zipped up in my coat pocket." Ride Op: "You'll have to leave it in the station." Me: "Er, OK." They must've had a serious hat-related incident this year, as they've been announcing in the station, "Hats are NO LONGER allowed on Verbolten." But being as mine was in a zipped-up pocket, there was little chance of my hat going rogue and attacking anyone. Oh, well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike541x Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 ^While I haven't been to Busch Gardens this year, I've noticed the same thing happening at Kings Dominion these past few weekends. There was a few times I saw ride ops having to ask for rider's hats, as well as announcing that all hats had to be left in the station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prozach626 Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 (edited) Yet, hat filled trains were dispatching from Fury on my last visit. Edited November 1, 2016 by prozach626 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 Huh. We've got it lucky, I guess. Most every time I'm on Coaster at Playland, and somebody's got a cap on, the ride op just advises the rider to take their cap off, as "they might lose it." And that's it. The rider usually stuffs the cap in a back pocket or in the jacket, etc. like Chuck would have done. And there are caps at the bottom, inside the open areas of Coaster, lol. But it's not started a No-Caps-Period policy. And to add, I think I would rather be 'hit' by a soft cloth cap, than a cell phone, mid-ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted November 1, 2016 Author Share Posted November 1, 2016 In addition to hitting the last night of Howl-o-Scream, I took some photos for another InvadR update. This might be the last one of the year, unless I can squeeze in another when the park reopens for Christmas Town. They've made quite a bit of progress since the last update. One last train ride to check out InvadR? We'll see. The train is getting ready for Christmas Town. They've even put up some Christmas trees, sans lights. Looks like those little footers have started to grow. They have a ways to go yet. Lots of work over at the tunnel Here's somewhat closer look. The worker's water-jug stand got some steel. I do believe this is some "theming." Call it a hunch. From the looks of that tower, the villagers are getting ready to fend off the Vikings. The construction wall is now completely blocking the entrance to LeScoot, which has been closed all during Howl-o-Scream. But they did provide another hole for curious people like us. The little "shed" is coming along. Don't impale yourselves on those sharpened posts on the right. They've added some wooden track since last time. Here's a closer look It's looking nice and curvy. Let's move on to the bridge by Alpengeist. Looks like another tunnel to me. Here's that curvy bit we saw earlier from another angle. A closer look. That's all for InvadR. Whew! Glad I sprung for Quick Queue today. One last look at the Rhine River trestle while the leaves start to turn. That'a all for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Great update! That last shot is amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcoaster Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Now that InvadR has gone vertical, I'm genuinely excited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Thanks for the great photos and update, Chuck! I'm stoked! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njcoasterguy34 Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 I'm already considering making the trip down next May. I might take a week off and hit both Kings Island and BGW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defrocker Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Seeing Invadr going vertical is getting me excited for this as well. I considered going to BGW this year but hearing the announcement as early as they made it made me wait until next year. I haven't been there in like 3 years and that's too long between visits since I live 4 hours away. It seems like they've made a lot of minor improvements over the past few seasons as well. Bottom line is I'm more excited for a small GCI than I should be because it gives me another reason to get to a fantastic park (possibly my favorite) next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southpuddle Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 I guess I wasn't aware that InvadR would be prtially steel-supported. Interesting. I think this is the perfect addition for a nearly perfect park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TyRush Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 I think InvadR is going to be one of the underdogs this year that makes a big impact. The theming is going to be incredible and should provide a nice ride with the tunnels and ride interaction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prozach626 Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Thanks for the update, Chuck. Looking good so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 I think InvadR is going to be one of the underdogs this year that makes a big impact. To be fair (barring Mean Streak somehow being a 2017 attraction), right now the 3 biggest coasters coming to the U.S. next year are this, another mid sized GCI and a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter thing at the Jersey Shore. It's really not even much of an underdog... there's basically no competition here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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